Which boat to buy

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nickharford

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I've had my little Cruisers International Holiday 224 for 4 years that I've been really pleased with over the years, (up for sale on Boats'n Outboards!) but now need something bigger, so looking for something in the 25-28' range, and a bit faster. I really liked the look of the Cranchi Perla 25 for (1999 boat for around 30k), but anyone like to make any suggestions? Looking to spend around 30k, diesel if poss. Must sleep 4, have a half-hood for those rainy/spray days, and do around 30kts. and not look too spacky either. Thanks people!
 
we are in the process of buying a sealine S23 diesel and very pleased with her compared to all the others we looked at in the price range (bayliners, maxums, etc)
might be slightly over you budget of £30k but not by much (we struck a deal at around the mid £30's)
 
Dont know much about that model, but on the whole Cranchi build decent boats that have a sportyish edge.

At this size and budget you cant ignor the major US brands - Bayliner or Maxum are probably the best for the budget. The yanks do use of space like no other and while maybe not having the most glam boats, the modern designs are smart and you get a load of boat for your buck. Biggest issue will be finding a diesel motor.

S23 is also worth looking at. one here for £35k.

It is worth asking yourself why you want a diesel boat? At 28ft it does make a degree of sense, but at the 24ft mark the amount of long range cruising you will do is probably a bit limited. Petrol boats do use a bit more per mile, but at this size not so much and with diesel costing the same a petrol next year I think the value of having a diesel lump in a small light weight boat may be a bit lost.
 
drove the small Cranchi Perla and indeed it is such a well built boat for its size which in reality is 25 feet boat altough recent models are named 28 for the big extended platform
If you want single diesel would personally buy this boat blind......
 
As someone looking for something similar I am looking at diesel because I thought they where more reliable and fuel was easier to find.

Am I wrong should we also be looking at petrol.

Opinion sought.
 
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If you want single diesel would personally buy this boat blind......

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Funny that.

Seriously though, you are not actually suggesting anyone should buy a boat blind? - Italian or not that is just wrong.
 
Ok, it depends on where you are boating as to the fuel availibility question. South coast all the was from Essex to Wales petrol is readily available and there is no supply issue. Ok, so deepest darkest Scotland or the North it may pose more of an issue.

As far as economy goes, yes a diesel boat will burn less fuel per mile than a petrol boat but on these smaller, lighter boats the difference is much less noticable than on a 6 tonne twin engine beasty.

to give some real world figures, our 24 with a 225hp diesel will comfortably cruise at 27/28knts and use around 0.8 litres per mile. The V6 225hp petrol powered version of the same boat uses approximately 1.1 litres per mile for the same speed (this is from the builder, and I havent actually run the tests like I have on the diesel boat).

Or in the much loved gph figure, the diesel uses 4.75gph at 27knts while the petrol boat uses 6.5gph. These are modern DI diesel engines, not sure how much worse the older generation KADs are agains the same injection V6.

In money terms, over a 30 hour season (planing hours here, so probably 50 in total) the cost difference with red diesel current around £0.60/l cheaper than petrol a diesel boat will cost £143.01 less than its petrol counter part to fuel for the year.

OK, so the more you use, the bigger the saving but still, you are going to struggle to top a grand.
 
Whoa! Lots of replies in half an hour - thankyou; I'll check out the Sealine. Reason for the diesel, is that in Christchurch, you can't get petrol at the waterside, and my back isn't what it used to be lugging petrol cans everywhere!
 
There you go, a perfect reason for opting for diesel. Though, it may be worth remembering that Lymington has just about the cheapest south coast fuel and it is only round the cornier if going that way from Christchurch.
 
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If you want single diesel would personally buy this boat blind......

[/ QUOTE ]

Funny that.

Seriously though, you are not actually suggesting anyone should buy a boat blind? - Italian or not that is just wrong.

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you are offending me /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif for being blind
it is just a metaphor my friend Jezbanks, obviously if you like make a full survey and whatever it takes to be sure it is a good buy
you never know what an owner might have tryed with his boat whatever make and how good it could have been, even if it is a Magnum (this is not Italian)
 
If you are looking around 24 feet i would consider petrol as a good engine. They are a lot quieter and cleaner and once red goes up as you say Jezz diesel will not make much sense in a small cruiser. Not many around with modern common rail diesels in in that price bracket and a single KAD 32 will be slow.
Im not sure its still for sale but Boa tquays have a brilliant Chaparral 260 cruiser with a KAD43 for arounf 36k been on their books for ages. It was the revue boat in MBM as its the only one i know with that instalation and a lot of boat for the money.
It looks in good nik and is worth a punt.
 
It's probably worth holding off making a decision till next month when mr brown announces what he is going to do with red. If as we hope he will do the same as Ireland then diesel will still be the best option for boats 28' and over. Less than 28' then it's down to availability of petrol.

Personally I don't like the idea of sitting on all that petrol but that's just me.

As a recently posted video demonstrates what petrol can do on a boat Video

This wouldn't have happened if he was using diesel. In fact he probably wouldn't be able to light it at all.

Now stands back for incoming from petrol boat owners.

PS for what it's worth I used to own a petrol/LPG boat.
 
Do you remember GC1's new petrol boat? He was lucky it didn't go bang.

And my point was that if he had done the same with diesel he would have had trouble lighting it let alone it going bang. So god forbid anyone does have a leak then hope you're not on a petrol boat.

And it was the fumes that ignited not the petrol!!!
 
Yes I do remember. But it didnt go bang. In fact, can anyone tell me the last time a petrol boat exploded?

OK, so yes - if I had to have a fuel leak I would want it to be diesel. Thing I dont understand is wll the boats with 'safe' diesel engines that then go on to have gas stoves installed - way more dangerous in a confined space imho...

And I understand it was the fumes that ignited - he still sloshed the petrol around a bit to get them /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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can anyone tell me the last time a petrol boat exploded?


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Yeah - the one on the video a couple of minutes ago /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
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